Author: paddy.moore@oceansupercluster.ca

Canada’s Ocean Supercluster announces $1 M Indigenous Career Pivot Program

Canada's Ocean Supercluster>>Articles by: paddy.moore@oceansupercluster.ca

The announcement follows the successful pilot project which saw mid-career Indigenous employees pivot to careers in Canada’s ocean economy

Together with four program partners, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster announced the Indigenous Career Pivot Program. The program will facilitate and support meaningful work placements for up to 17 Indigenous People wishing to explore new career options in Canada’s ocean economy.

Following the successful pilot program which saw 11 mid-career Indigenous People pivot to careers in the ocean economy, the program represents a total investment of more than $1 million of which $750,000 is funded by the Ocean Supercluster.

Led by Clear Seas Centre for Responsible Marine Shipping with their project partners of British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT), the College of the North Atlantic (CNA), and the Aboriginal Community Career Employment Services Society (ACCESS), the program will provide Indigenous Peoples with 12-month employment placements where they will gain valuable experience in the ocean sector and enhance their knowledge through work experiences that complement their existing skillset and natural aptitudes.
The program offers learning and support opportunities for both participants and employers through career mentoring support provided by Canada’s Ocean Supercluster and employers, a Peer Support Network for Indigenous participants, and cultural awareness training provided to employers.

The Ocean Supercluster recognizes that Indigenous Peoples are natural collaborators in the ocean sector
because of their lived experiences in coastal environments and their historic, cultural, and spiritual connection to the waters. With this understanding, the Supercluster is working to build mutually beneficial relationships with First Nation, Inuit, and Métis communities to better understand how to sustainably develop ocean opportunities that enhance Indigenous communities.

To learn more about the program and how to get involved as an employer or participant, visit: Indigenous Career Pivot Program | Ocean Sector Opportunities

Quotes:
“By creating training and career opportunities for Indigenous peoples in the ocean economy, this initiative will ensure that Canada has an even stronger and more inclusive workforce. I am pleased to see Canada’s Ocean Supercluster recognizing the traditional knowledge of Indigenous peoples and building on the success of the Indigenous Career Pivot Project.” – The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry

“We are very pleased to support a continued collaboration with project partners, OSC members and Indigenous communities that facilitates new, exciting careers in culturally safe and inclusive work environments for mid-career Indigenous persons keen to explore opportunities within the sustainable blue economy while enhancing the cultural competencies of the participating workplaces.” – Melody Pardoe, Chief Engagement Officer, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster

“Employers have an incredible opportunity to listen, understand, and work with the talented new generation of Indigenous knowledge leaders and workers. The program is an important step forward in advancing reconciliation as set out in the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.” – Sarah Thomas, Director of Indigenous and Coastal Community Relations at Clear Seas

About OSC
Canada’s Ocean Supercluster is a pan-Canadian, industry-led, transformative cluster focused on tackling some of the biggest challenges across ocean sectors through a collaborative program designed to accelerate the development and commercialization of globally relevant solutions, while also building a highly capable, inclusive workforce. The Ocean Supercluster has approved more than 70 projects with a total value of more than $360 million which will deliver more than 110 new made-in-Canada ocean products, processes, and services to sell to the world.

About Clear Seas Centre for Responsible Marine Shipping
Clear Seas is a not-for-profit, independent research centre that supports safe and sustainable marine shipping in Canada. Through research and communications, it provides impartial information on key maritime issues to policy makers and the public. All publications are available at clearseas.org.

Media Contacts:
Nancy Andrews
Canada’s Ocean Supercluster
nancy.andrews@oceansupercluster.ca
709.725.7070

Sarah Thomas
Director of Indigenous and Coastal Community Relations
Clear Seas Centre for Responsible Marine Shipping
Sarah.thomas@clearseas.org
778.713.1444

Careers in Canada’s Ocean Economy

Canada's Ocean Supercluster>>Articles by: paddy.moore@oceansupercluster.ca

The Opportunity for Rewarding Contributions to Canada’s Sustainable Development of the Ocean

Submitted by: Melody Pardoe, Chief Engagement Officer, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster

When Canadians think about the ocean, what comes to mind? Unique and rewarding careers that span everything from robotics to data analysis to clean energy, or do they think of whale watching, sea kayaking, fishing and surfing? In addition to recreation and nourishment, we hope that more and more people think of the ocean as a place for economic prosperity and a source for a rewarding career.

Nearly 30% of the world’s population lives along ocean coasts. With the longest coastline in the world, Canadians have the option to live in hundreds of coastal communities, all with unique cultures and economic opportunities.  Living and working close to the ocean is extremely rewarding, something I personally recommend everyone try if they have the opportunity.

Canadian ocean companies are developing new technologies that are at the forefront of mitigating climate change and modernising traditional industries such that we are learning more about the ocean and lessening the harmful impacts on our shared aquatic global ecosystem. These solutions will allow us to sustainably meet the increasing demand for protein, decarbonize marine transportation of goods and people, transition to clean energy to power the world, and collect the data we need to monitor and operate in our ocean environment with a reduced footprint. It is through technology, collaboration and respectful relationships with Indigenous peoples that we will enjoy a thriving sustainable ocean economy. It’s exciting to know that the hundreds of small (and growing) businesses involved in Ocean Supercluster projects are leading the way with ocean innovation globally, and these companies are hiring – there are thousands of available jobs being created in ocean industries.

Our team recently took a deep dive into the jobs currently advertised by our member companies, and the range of opportunities are vast. We found that more than half of these roles required technical competency (e.g. engineer, technician, software developer, etc.) and just over 25% were senior management positions. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) anticipates that by 2030, the world’s ocean economy will double to $3 trillion (USD) outpacing the general global economy by a factor of nearly 20%. If you have never worked in an ocean industry, I encourage you to consider a new adventure, contributing to this momentous growth.

Please get in touch with us to become a member or follow us on social media to hear about the amazing things OSC members are building. In addition, here are a few places to start exploring ocean careers:

Canada is an ocean nation; how will you get involved? I’m always open to connecting, please feel welcome to reach out on LinkedIn.

Two-Eyed Seeing for a Sustainable Blue Economy

Canada's Ocean Supercluster>>Articles by: paddy.moore@oceansupercluster.ca
Ralph Eldridge, Indigenous Engagement Lead, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster
Leah Beveridge & Shelley Denny, Two-Eyed Seeing Advisory Committee Members

Canada’s Ocean Economy is experiencing transformative growth. It has never been so essential to balance ocean health and productivity into a single priority, and as we look to sustainability models, we must use both eyes.

A priority for Canada’s Ocean Supercluster is to adopt a “Two-Eyed Seeing” (Etuaptmumk in Mi’kmaw) approach to bring together Western science with Indigenous Knowledge. To embed this in the Supercluster’s initiatives, an advisory group is currently working on policy and program recommendations to guide ocean activity that better aligns with Indigenous community priorities. Shelley Denny was an early supporter of the advisory group. Denny, Director of Aquatic Research and Stewardship, Unama’ki Institute of Natural Resources, explains, “Two-Eyed Seeing recognizes the equality of different knowledge and the strengths of knowing through multiple perspectives.”

Two-Eyed Seeing is an inherently different way of considering knowledge because it is based on the concept that there are different ways of seeing the world. “From the Western eye, the world can be divided into compartments (disciplines), work can be divided among experts, and through teamwork, then put together to form a more comprehensive picture of the whole because each individual can dive so much deeper into their area of expertise. But from a (generic) Indigenous eye, you just can’t divide the world, therefore you can’t divide biology from physics,” said Leah Beveridge, advisory group member and PhD candidate at Dalhousie University. “For example; you can’t divide environmental from social from cultural from spiritual from physical; the world is a whole and we are all a part of it, living in it, influencing it, not as outsiders looking down upon it. Two-Eyed seeing asks us to see the world in both ways.”

There is no one Indigenous worldview. There are First Nations (plural), Inuit and Metis, each with its own unique culture and worldview. 

Indigenous Peoples have unique perspectives and relationships with water. Canada’s three oceans have been their homes and have played an important role in sustaining and defining them. Many Indigenous communities have a heightened knowledge of our oceans, the interrelationships between marine species, and their ecosystems.

“Indigenous knowledge must be interpreted through an Indigenous lens, meaning that Indigenous peoples must be partners in the process,” added Beveridge. “As a non-Indigenous person, I have long been struck by the concept of Two-Eyed seeing, but also completely at a loss for how to do it. I am not Indigenous, therefore I don’t have an Indigenous eye, so how can I possibly see-through one?! But then an Elder pointed out to me that I can learn to see the world in a different way. I will not hold Indigenous knowledge, but I can practice looking at the world through a different lens.”

At the Ocean Supercluster, we know fostering collaboration with different ideas, insights, and experiences expands the opportunity for innovation. Incorporating Two-Eyed Seeing is securing new ways to partner with Indigenous communities, breaking down barriers, and aligning commercial and community priorities that contribute to healthy and productive oceans.

As published in a special World Water Day feature in the National Post.


Ralph Eldridge
Indigenous Engagement Lead
Canada’s Ocean Supercluster


Leah Beveridge
Two-Eyed Seeing Advisory Committee Member
PhD Candidate
Dalhousie University

Shelley Denny
Two-Eyed Seeing Advisory Committee Member
Director of Aquatic Research and Stewardship
Unama’ki Institute of Natural Resources

BlueVita Technology Project 

Canada's Ocean Supercluster>>Articles by: paddy.moore@oceansupercluster.ca

Canada’s Ocean Supercluster announces $1.7M BlueVita Technology Project 

New transport technology will position Atlantic Canada as a leader in mobile storage and multi-modal live haul of aquatic animals 

Today, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster announced the $1.7 million BlueVita Technology Project. This New Brunswick-led project will introduce new technologies for mobile storage and transport of aquatic life. BlueVita Technology will be a novel, best-in-class multi-modal system that controls and manages the storage and transport environment, maintains product quality, reduces shrinkage, and provides high animal welfare standards.    

The BlueVita Technology Project aims to address significant challenges facing the seafood sector in Canada and worldwide, including undervalued seafood that has been frozen due to seasonal harvests. This project will allow access to high-end markets currently constrained by air transport costs, complicated shipping logistics, and other factors.  

The project will also address increasing demand for quality, provenance, and welfare of seafood products and intends to solve challenges related to complex seafood value chains that require collaboration at several levels. The project sponsor, Ship Nature’s Way Inc. of Saint Andrews, New Brunswick, is majority owned by aquatic technology company GIS Gas Infusion Systems Inc of Saint Andrews and the logistics solutions company Ocean Perfect in the Netherlands. Ship Nature’s Way and their partners have a first-hand understanding of the challenges of live storage and transport of aquatic animals and are uniquely placed to develop reliable and cost-effective solutions. 

With a total project value of nearly $1.7 million, the Ocean Supercluster will provide close to $830 thousand towards the project, with the balance coming from project partners. The BlueVita Technology project will be undertaken at the Huntsman Marine Science Centre in Saint Andrews, New Brunswick. The trials overseen by Huntsman Marine will provide third-party validation of the results across multi-species, including lobster, crab, shellfish, and fish. 

This BlueVita Technology project will benefit Canada’s ocean economy by supporting the seafood sector’s growth, innovation, and sustainability with a product rooted in an understanding of customer needs. The success of this new transport technology will position Atlantic Canada as a leader in mobile storage and multi-modal live haul of aquatic animals, allowing for market expansion within Canada and international markets in Europe and Asia.  

About OSC
Canada’s Ocean Supercluster is a pan-Canadian, industry-led, transformative cluster focused on tackling some of the biggest challenges across ocean sectors through a collaborative program designed to accelerate the development and commercialization of globally relevant solutions, while also building a highly capable, inclusive workforce. The Ocean Supercluster has approved 71 projects with a total value of more than $360 million which will deliver more than 110 new made-in-Canada ocean products, processes, and services to sell to the world. 

Media Contacts:
Nancy Andrews
Canada’s Ocean Supercluster
nancy.andrews@oceansupercluster.ca
709.725.7070 
 
Dr Michael Beattie 
Executive Scientific Director  
Ship Nature’s Way Inc. 
mike@gasinfusionsystems.com 
506.754.6360 
www.bluevitatechnology.com 

 

Jolanda Boerjan 
Ocean Perfect 
Jolanda@oceanperfect.com 
240.549.9617 
 

Quotes:  

“As demand for more sustainable foods grows, our government understands the importance of developing technologies that support innovation and sustainability in the seafood sector. Thanks to this new system for storing and shipping seafood, we will see even greater growth in our ocean economy, both domestically and globally. This will not only provide opportunities for higher-paying Canadian jobs in the fishing sector but also support the sustainability of wild fish stocks.” – The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry 

“The seafood sector is an important part of Canada’s economy with significant export opportunity. We are proud to announce the BlueVita Technology Project that will help drive the next generation of seafood transportation that delivers improved quality, increased economic activity and opportunity in the industry.” – Kendra MacDonald, CEO, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster 

“BlueVita Technology will fundamentally change the way that live lobster, crab, shellfish, and fish are delivered to global markets.  Utilizing Ocean Perfect logistics powered by BlueVita Technology, suppliers will now be able to enjoy the economic benefits of shipping live product for long durations in significant quantities, while maintaining high standards of quality control, environmental responsibility, and animal welfare.” – Dr. Michael Beattie, Executive Scientific Director of Ship Nature’s Way Inc. 

Welcome New OSC Team Members

Canada's Ocean Supercluster>>Articles by: paddy.moore@oceansupercluster.ca
Canada’s Ocean Supercluster is pleased to welcome Audrey Lapenna, Jakub Skrzypczyk, Colleen Menard, Raelene Kennedy, Romaine Redman, and Lubomir Kalniev to the organization.

Audrey Lapenna joins the OSC as Technology Leadership Program Manager, where she supports the delivery of the Ocean Supercluster’s technology projects. Audrey has an extensive background in sustainability, environmental management, treaty implementation, and strategic planning and project management.

Jakub Skrzypczyk joins the OSC team as a Partnerships and Stakeholder Engagement Manager, where he works with the Ocean Supercluster’s network of more than 460 members. Having worked in non-profits in Canada and Europe across a wide range of issues, including environment and human rights, Jakub brings leadership experience in business development, marketing, communications and strategic partnerships.

Colleen Menard joins the OSC team as a Technology Leadership Program Manager, where she supports the delivery of the Supercluster’s technology projects. Colleen has a background ocean industries, joining the OSC from offshore oil and gas with previous experience in ocean mapping and ocean technology sales.

Raelene Kennedy joins the OSC team as the Corporate Controller, managing the financial operations of OSC, including accounting, reporting and overseeing the OSC’s project disbursement processes. Raelene has over 20 years experience in dynamic non-profit and entrepreneurial business environments within industries such as R&D, manufacturing, construction and property management.

Romaine Redman joins the team as Innovation Ecosystem Coordinator, where he supports the IE team in growing the innovation ecosystem while building exceptional member experiences. Romaine brings with him a background in economic development, innovation, and the political economy. Additionally, he has dedicated many years to the non-for-profit sector and community development.

Lubomir Kalniev joins the team as Innovation Ecosystem Coordinator, where he supports the IE team in growing the innovation ecosystem while building exceptional member experiences. Lubomir has a background in innovation and international business management having worked with country-level greenhouse gas emission inventories and implementing sustainable best practices the United Nations ESCAP.

Welcome to the team!

BLACK IN CANADA

Canada's Ocean Supercluster>>Articles by: paddy.moore@oceansupercluster.ca
By: Ruth Mojeed Ramirez, Chief Equity Officer of The Inclusion Project

I recently became a citizen of Canada. During my first few days in Canada, I found many reasons to be grateful to be here. In pursuit of better economic and academic prospects, I left a blossoming career in communications and public relations in my home country of Nigeria and traveled over 7000 miles to Canada to pursue my post-secondary education. My adopted community in Victoria, British Columbia, afforded me a life-changing opportunity to connect, engage and learn about “inclusivity” and what it means for me as a Black woman in Canada. I learned through my own experience as an international student and through the lived realities of others who, like me, came to Canada as international students, immigrants, or refugees seeking opportunities for self-actualization.

These collective experiences have formed the basis for the work we do at The Inclusion Project, in leading change through research, public engagement, and inclusive leadership. Our work in employment equity seeks to engage organizations and key stakeholders in upholding equitable practices for equity-deserving groups across Canada. We do this by developing and strengthening accountability frameworks, roadmaps, and benchmarks for best-in-class practices in intersectional Racial Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (REDI+). Through our audit, assessment, and advisory services, we serve some of Canada’s leading institutions and stakeholders across public and private sectors on standard practices for employment equity.

In my day-to-day role, I have had many opportunities to learn, educate, and advise many organizations and stakeholders on inclusivity and what it means to me as a Black woman in Canada. The reality for many like me is that these opportunities do not abound. For many Black women, there are fewer opportunities for self-actualization through economic or social access, and in many cases, representation in policy or leadership positions. Sometimes, numbers tell the story:

  • Despite growth in Labour Market Availability, in 2016, less than 10% of Black Canadian professional candidates at a Canadian University were hired for middle-management positions and above. Instead, Black hires were overrepresented among service positions, and female candidates were overrepresented in administrative positions.
  • In 2016, approximately 70% of Black women and 63.6% of Black men had at least post- secondary or Apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma (StatsCan). About 1 in every 7 working women in the top 1% belonged to a visible minority group, compared with 1 in 5 in the working population (StatsCan).
  • A 2021 study by the Diversity Institute shows that the unemployment rate for persons who identify as non-Indigenous and non-visible minority was 9.3%. The rates of unemployment were much higher for those who identify as South Asian (17.8%), Arab (17.3%), Black (16.8%), Southeast Asian (16.5%), Latin American (16%), Chinese (14%), and Filipino (13.2%).

While numbers do not capture all of the multi-layered, overlapping and intersectional experiences of Black people in Canada, it starts to show us where we are as a society and if we follow the prompt of the data, it also tells us what we need to do to move the needle on racial equity. To do so, we must begin by collecting and analyzing race-based disaggregated data and engaging with lived experience and expertise to help chart the course for equity in our policies, process and practices.

I hope that as a society we will find some shared imperatives to do better to respond to the needs of our own First Peoples, and as well, Black, Asian, and all other equity-deserving groups in Canada. As we work toward equity, my hope is that it will be equity for all.

Canada’s Oceans sector should not be left behind in catching up to the change that is already on the horizon. To move forward, we will need to create and strengthen opportunities for cross-sector collaborations and partnerships.

Ruth Mojeed Ramirez is the Chief Equity Officer of The Inclusion Project. She brings extensive lived experience and grounded expertise to her work in racial equity, diversity and inclusion. Her research, engagement and solutions design focus on an intersectional and inter-generational approach to address complex issues of race, decolonization and gender equity. She leads organizational REDI strategy development and coaching among multi-level stakeholders in public and private sectors. You can read about some of her work through the Employment Equity Partnership & the Racial Equity, Diversity & Inclusion.

Canada’s Ocean Startup Ecosystem can lead the world in the Blue Economy

Canada's Ocean Supercluster>>Articles by: paddy.moore@oceansupercluster.ca
By: Don Grant, Executive Director, Ocean Startup Project &
Richard Egli, Managing Director at Alacrity Canada 
Rife with disruptive and transformative technologies that are reshaping the way we interact with our oceans, Canada’s ocean startup ecosystem is quickly emerging as a leader in the Blue Economy. Innovators across the country have awakened to one of the most consequential opportunities of the century, leveraging experience, knowledge and an entrepreneurial spirit to create profitable ventures that improve ocean health while elevating Canada’s role in a more sustainable, cleaner future.

Despite the magnitude of the opportunity, some confusion still exists around what blue tech actually entails. Let’s simplify it using an analogous term that has gained prominence in public discourse: blue tech is cleantech. Cleantech can be defined as any technology, product or service that uses fewer materials or energy, generates less waste, and causes less negative environmental impacts than the industry standard – and that is precisely what blue tech is on the ocean. Let’s look at some real-world, regenerative ocean startup examples.

Newfoundland and Labrador-based 3F Waste Recovery, purchases cod skins and bones, which are traditionally considered a costly waste, and uses them to develop the first “beyond food grade” collagen to be used in, among other things, beauty products and pharmaceuticals. Recognizing that the circular economy is good for business, people and the planet, the company is on a mission to develop a line of products from fish waste that are actually more valuable than the fish flesh itself. So 3F is not disrupting a traditional industry, but rather, embracing a new vertical which creates more economic opportunity while reducing waste.

Both British Columbia-based Cascadia Seaweed and Nova Scotia-based Seachange Biochemistry are respectively growing and processing one of the most underutilized and high value resources in the world – seaweed – to create robust and environmentally regenerative ocean startups. Seaweed offers huge opportunities for growth in multiple verticals and these companies are leveraging the opportunity in very different manners. What is common though, is that these startups, at their foundational core, maintain a commitment to building massively scalable companies with environmentally and socially-conscious principles. Canada will lead the world in this sector.

Another British Columbia-based startup, a2o Advanced Materials Inc., is developing a new polymer-based marine coating technology that has the potential to significantly mitigate the environmental impact of the marine transportation industry – creating cleaner marine environments and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Their blue tech replaces traditional anti-fouling paints that release toxic compounds into the marine environment with a non-toxic coating system that reduces drag. Reducing drag enables greater vessel efficiency, which directly translates to reduced fuel consumption and therefore enables the technology to directly reduce GHG emissions; the venture has projected a 10 per cent reduction in GHG/CO2 emissions using their friction reducing coating relative to a clean hull with a standard anti-fouling paint.

The ocean sector is exploding with opportunity and the ocean startup ecosystem has incredible momentum. Other significant developments in blue tech include the electrification of marine propulsion, ocean-based carbon capture and sequestration, increased use of autonomous operations, including USV’s and AUV’s, and so many more. The Ocean Startup Project, in partnership with Canada’s Ocean Supercluster, is currently working with 40 ocean startups, which were paired down from 140 Canadian applicants, and Alacrity Canada is seeing more interest and more ocean innovation being proposed on a daily basis.

Something special is happening in the ocean sector in Canada; it’s transforming our economy, regenerating our oceans and climate future, and further confirming this country as a global leader in sustainability. As innovators and global citizens, we all have a role to play in the Blue Economy, and with the world watching, what better time is there to turn innovative ideas into thriving, sustainable businesses?
Don Grant
Executive Director,
Ocean Startup Project
Richard Egli
Managing Director
Alacrity Canada

Canada’s Ocean Supercluster announces $65M Clean Ocean Advanced Biofuels Project

Canada's Ocean Supercluster>>Articles by: paddy.moore@oceansupercluster.ca

The largest Ocean Supercluster project announced to date

Today, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster announced its largest project to date, the $65 million Clean Ocean Advanced Biofuels Project. In the project, Ontario-based Valent will work with a pan-Canadian team to produce Canada’s first renewable diesel from abundantly available agricultural and forestry by-products.

A major ocean industry challenge is the need for a range of environmentally sustainable, low greenhouse gas (GHG) emission, and low-sulphur marine fuels available to end-users at a competitive cost that are compliant with current and future fuel regulations. The Clean Ocean Advanced Biofuels project will address these challenges by introducing a low carbon biofuel across the marine ecosystem.

For the development of the Clean Ocean Advanced Biofuels Project, Valent Low Carbon Technologies will work with partners FORGE Hydrocarbons, Mara Renewables, Clearwater, Katal Energy, Horizon Maritime, and Sustainable Development Technology Canada to produce fuel and solvents to be used in industry and a hydrocarbon material with improved nutritional value for human health products. With a total value of $65 million dollars, the Ocean Supercluster will provide nearly $5.7 million with the balance coming from the project’s industry and government partners.

The success of the Clean Ocean Advanced Biofuels Project will drive Canadian renewable diesel production and supply, reduce imports, and foster international market exports. The Clean Ocean Advanced Biofuels Project will also boost job creation across Canada creating more than 150 direct jobs.

The cumulative emission reductions from Valent’s suite of technologies will positively impact local marine life and air quality, supporting Canada’s transition to a more sustainable future.

Quotes:
“Innovation comes from bringing people together to solve real-world challenges. Through this project, the Ocean Supercluster and its partners will actively support Canada’s transition to a more sustainable future. This groundbreaking project will produce Canada’s first renewable diesel—positively impacting marine life while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions—and create more than 150 jobs.” – The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry

“The sustainable development of our ocean economy is one of the most important opportunities of our time. The $65M Clean Ocean Advanced Biofuels project is not only our largest project to date but the collaboration of its pan-Canadian partners is a testament to what we can achieve when we work together. This transformational project will help shape Canada’s future as a leader in low-carbon fuel production.” – Kendra MacDonald, CEO, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster

“With over 50,000 merchant vessels circling the globe, we have a huge challenge to reduce transport emissions in the ocean economy. The Ocean Supercluster’s financial support and its extensive network of collaborators fosters an accelerated and collaborative pathway to build the renewable fuels value chain for marine transport”.  – Karlis Vasarais, Co-Founder and EVP, Valent Low-Carbon Technologies

“The key to wide-spread adoption of renewable fuel in the marine sector is abundant renewable feedstock and a way to convert that feedstock into a fungible, low-carbon liquid fuel. The funding from the Ocean Supercluster enables our consortium to shape the Canadian Maritimes into a global leader in low-carbon marine fuel production.” – Tim Haig, Founder and CEO, FORGE Hydrocarbons

“Mara is excited to play a leading role in this critical project, facilitating the transition to more sustainable practices and prioritizing the future of our oceans and planet. Our talented team will leverage the wonders of the ocean and Mara’s leading plant-focused biotechnology to ensure a greener and stronger future for all of Canada.” – Arturo Ania, CEO Mara Renewables Corporation

About OSC:
Canada’s Ocean Supercluster is a pan-Canadian, industry-led transformative cluster focused on tackling some of the biggest challenges across ocean sectors through a collaborative program designed to accelerate the development and commercialization of globally relevant solutions, while also building a highly-capable, inclusive workforce. The Ocean Supercluster has approved more than 60 projects with a total value of $320 million which will deliver more than 110 new made-in-Canada ocean products, processes, and services to sell to the world.

Media Contact:
Nancy Andrews
Canada’s Ocean Supercluster
nancy.andrews@oceansupercluster.ca
709.725.7070

Canada’s Ocean Supercluster announces $6.7M AROWIND Project

Canada's Ocean Supercluster>>Articles by: paddy.moore@oceansupercluster.ca
One of five Ocean Supercluster projects announced today

Today, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster announced five new projects with a total value of nearly $29 million, including the Autonomous Remote Offshore Wind Inspection, Navigation and Deployment (AROWIND) Project. This Ontario-led project will develop an uncrewed surface vessel (USV) based subsea inspection solution for offshore windfarms.

The AROWIND Project will provide a prevailing ocean sector concept that is autonomous and remotely operates subsea surveys. This ocean solution presents an opportunity for Canadian companies to commercialize a remote and autonomous inspection solution for offshore wind inspection that reduces vessel costs and number of personnel on-board.

With a total project value of nearly $6.7 million, the Ocean Supercluster will provide close to $3 million with the balance coming from project partners. For the project, Voyis will work with Canadian companies Deep Trekker and HydroSurv Unmanned Survey Inc., and international partners EIVA, and Sonardyne.

This project will define a new standard for offshore windfarm inspection methodology using remote and resident deployment solutions. By consolidating this solution in Canada, diverse local supply chains will grow in tandem with the offshore wind market over the next decade, solidifying Canadian manufacturing jobs in a changing economic environment. This project expected to create 55 new direct jobs and an estimated 275 indirect jobs.

About OSC
Canada’s Ocean Supercluster is a pan-Canadian, industry-led transformative cluster focused on tackling some of the biggest challenges across ocean sectors through a collaborative program designed to accelerate the development and commercialization of globally relevant solutions, while also building a highly-capable, inclusive workforce. The Ocean Supercluster has approved projects with a total value of more than $320 million which will deliver more than 100 new made-in-Canada ocean products, processes, and services to sell to the world.

Media Contact:
Nancy Andrews
Canada’s Ocean Supercluster
nancy.andrews@oceansupercluster.ca
709.725.7070

Quotes:

“Our government is ensuring our oceans and marine ecosystems remain clean and healthy for Canadians from coast to coast to coast. The Ocean Supercluster projects announced today will help us build a cleaner post-pandemic economy and achieve environmental sustainability on a global scale. Projects such as the one led by Voyis are taking innovation further and making lasting contributions by developing novel solutions.” – The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry

“We are excited to announce this Ontario-led project which will develop an innovative solution that will not only respond to the growing demand for more inspection capabilities globally, but is also building strong cross-sectoral partnerships, creating new economic opportunity, and new jobs in Canada.” – Kendra MacDonald, CEO, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster

 

Canada’s Ocean Supercluster announces $10.5M Coastal Incident Management System (CIMS) Project

Canada's Ocean Supercluster>>Articles by: paddy.moore@oceansupercluster.ca

One of five Ocean Supercluster projects announced today

Today, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster announced five new projects with a total value of nearly $29 million, including the Coastal Incident Management System (CIMS) Project. This BC-led project will provide coastal, Indigenous, and remote communities a cost-effective rapid response package, including a mobile command, control and communications system, data analysis tool and mobile incident platform for marine emergencies.

This new capability addresses outdated domain awareness and communications technologies to prepare for, respond to and recover from marine oil spill hazards and other environmental emergencies. When put in the capable hands of First Nation coastal communities, who have multi-generational mariner skills, as well as deep knowledge of their territory, its resources and their vulnerabilities, the Coastal Incident Management System (CIMS) capability will transform elements of Canada’s Marine Oil Spill Preparedness and Response Regime.

In the Coastal Incident Management System (CIMS) Project, Shift Environmental will work with a pan-Canadian team including T’Sou-ke Nation, Saab Technologies, BlueNode, the Canadian Coast Guard, Western Canada Marine Response Corporation (WCMRC) and the National Indigenous Fisheries Institute. With a total project value of nearly $10.5 million, the Ocean Supercluster will provide $4.4 million in funding with the balance coming from project partners.

The packaged solution created by the Coastal Incident Management System (CIMS) Project includes state of the art communications software and hardware; novel response equipment, procedures and training; and un-crewed surface vessel and aerial vehicle designs for spill detection, immediate response, and persistent monitoring. This package will address marine emergency incident command and response’s two critical gaps: sense-making and communication between responders; and timely spill assessment and response capability in remote and nearshore locations globally.

This project is expected to create 18 new direct jobs and an estimated 90 indirect jobs and will help build transformative public-private-First Nation partnerships by providing new capabilities to coastal resources.

About OSC
Canada’s Ocean Supercluster is a pan-Canadian, industry-led transformative cluster focused on tackling some of the biggest challenges across ocean sectors through a collaborative program designed to accelerate the development and commercialization of globally relevant solutions, while also building a highly capable, inclusive workforce. The Ocean Supercluster has approved projects with a total value of more than $320 million which will deliver more than 100 new made-in-Canada ocean products, processes, and services to sell to the world.

Media Contact:
Nancy Andrews
Canada’s Ocean Supercluster
nancy.andrews@oceansupercluster.ca
709.725.7070

Quotes:

“Our government is ensuring our oceans and marine ecosystems remain clean and healthy for Canadians from coast to coast to coast. The Ocean Supercluster projects announced today will help us build a cleaner post-pandemic economy and achieve environmental sustainability on a global scale. Projects such as the one led by Shift Environmental are taking innovation further, making lasting contributions and helping our oceans thrive.” – The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry

“The Ocean Supercluster is built on collaboration, from across the country and across ocean sectors.  Together we are solving some of the biggest challenges in ocean with globally-relevant, sustainable solutions. This BC-led project has taken a collaborative approach to ensuring coastal, remote, and Indigenous communities have the capabilities to effectively respond to marine emergencies.” – Kendra MacDonald, CEO, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster

“Isolated coastal communities are often the most vulnerable to marine oil spills and vessel discharges. Capabilities such as CIMS provide a cost-effective solution, putting immediate response capabilities into the skilled hands of those who need it most. T’Sou-ke Nation and the project partners look forward to demonstrating CIMS as a locally owned, operated and maintained solution to Canadian communities from coast to coast to coast and to vulnerable communities around the word.” –  T’Sou-ke First Nation

“Data is the new oil and software is the new steel” as pronounced by Rear Admiral Selby “The Small the Agile and the Many” is being used as a hedge strategy for the U.S. Navy to meet national security interests by balancing large, centralized, and expensive equipment and forces with a distributed and agile rapid response capability. Similarly, these same principals can de-risk spill response and diversify capabilities. In a country with the longest coastline in the world…the principal of “The Small the Agile and the Many” is integral to a robust response strategy.” –  Shift Environmental Technologies Ltd.

“The Coastal Incident Management System (CIMS) collaborative project has the potential to transform the way that coastal response is managed in Canada and around the world by improving technology and communication and providing rapid assessment and response capabilities in the critical moments immediately after an incident occurs.” – Saab Technologies Ltd.

The Coastal Incident Management System (CIMS) will provide eyes, ears and agility that is ready to respond and enhance Canada’s Spill Response Regime by co-developing modern technology with First Nation communities such as T’Sou-ke Nation.”  –  BlueNode